Deputy Chief of Staff of the President Almaz Raimbekov explained that the proposed changes aim to simplify the process of obtaining a civil passport for children under 16 years old residing in Kyrgyzstan.
“According to current legislation, to issue a passport for a child, the consent of both parents is required. This creates certain difficulties, as one of the parents may be abroad or refuse to participate in the child's life. In such cases, the other parent often has to go to court,” he noted.
The Cabinet of Ministers proposes to allow the issuance of a passport based on the application of one parent, which should significantly simplify the process.
At the same time, Raimbekov emphasized that this provision pertains exclusively to obtaining a passport. Consent from both parents will still be required for the child to travel abroad.
It is important to note that the changes will not affect underage Kyrgyz citizens who are outside the country, for whom the consent of both parents is also necessary to obtain a passport.
In response to questions from deputies, the Deputy Chief of Staff emphasized that the decision to maintain the existing rule is driven by safety considerations, as if the child is already abroad, issuing a passport based on the application of one parent could lead to potential conflict situations.
As a result of the discussion, committee members agreed with the draft law and approved it in the first reading.
